The Courier-Journal (Louisville)
Talent for pottery ran in the family
Would you believe that one of the most prominent figures in American art pottery came from England? Frederick Hurten Rhead was born in England in 1880 and started his ceramics career by working with his father, Frederick Alfred Rhead. Talent for pottery apparently ran in the family; Frederick Hurten’s uncles George Woolliscroft Rhead and Louis John Rhead, his sister Charlotte and his brother Harry also worked in ceramics.
Frederick Hurten and Harry moved to the United States in the early 20th century. They both worked for Roseville Pottery in Ohio, which opened in 1890. Frederick Hurten was the company’s art director from 1904 to 1908, when his brother became the director. During his time as director, Frederick Hurten Rhead created Roseville’s most famous art pottery line, Della Robbia.
This vase, which sold at Morphy Auctions for $5,632, surpassing its high estimate even with a little professional restoration, is an excellent example of Roseville’s Della Robbia and the attention it receives at auctions. This pottery line, named after a sculptor from the Italian Renaissance, features carved relief designs and multiple hand-applied glazes. Rhead created the designs, but other artists made the carvings and applied the glazes.
Q: I recently inherited a stamp collection with over 6,000 stamps foreign and from the United States. It is believed to be from my grandfather back in the 1920s when he was in the Navy. The dates on the stamps are from the 1860s and ‘70s to the 1930s. I would like to find out what the collection is worth or to sell certain stamps.
A: The best way to find a value for your stamps is to take them to an expert for an appraisal. Stamp collecting is highly specialized, and collectors and dealers alike tend to be very knowledgeable and passionate. Look for a specialized stamp dealer in your area. Some coin and jewelry dealers also buy and sell stamps. Check the National Stamp Dealers Association (nsdainc.org). The American Philatelic Society (stamps.org) can help you find more resources.
Q: I would like to learn more about the political buttons I received from a relative.
A: Buttons, especially political buttons, have been popular collectibles since the 1890s. The first massproduced political buttons were made in 1896 for Republican Presidential nominee William McKinley. Since then, presidential elections, and many local or state elections, have had buttons as campaign merchandise. The earliest buttons are called “celluloid buttons” because they were made with a celluloid cover over a paper layer on a metal base. Today, most buttons are made of metal. There may be multiple designs associated with a candidate, even in the same election. Collectors look for buttons made for candidates’ campaigns, not the ones sold at gift shops. Political buttons have been reproduced since the 1970s, and while they are also collectible, they sell for only a few dollars. Authentic buttons can be worth hundreds, even thousands of dollars if they are rare designs in good condition. Buttons with pictures are usually worth more than buttons with just text. Jugate buttons, which have pictures of both the presidential candidate and running mate, often have the highest value. Check the back and edge of a button for its maker, the year it was made or other identifying information. The American Political Items Collectors club (www.apic.us) has more information and resources.
Also, Hake’s Auctions (www.Hakes.com) is a great resource for what buttons are selling and for how much. To learn more about buttons, check out “Button Power: 125 Years of Saying it With Buttons” by Christen Carter and Ted Hake.
Q: We were remodeling a room in our house and came across two old barrettes that have girls’ names on them in 22k gold lettering. We’re not sure if there is any value to them or not. The names are Sally and Edna.
A: Gold jewelry always has value. 22k gold is 22 out of 24 parts gold, two parts other metals. A jeweler in your area may be able to tell you the meltdown value for the barrettes, or what the gold in them is worth as scrap gold. They may charge a fee to find the value. The meltdown value is a good base price for jewelry; never sell it for less. It is usually best to sell gold jewelry as jewelry; it is worth more than scrap. Look for shops or dealers that sell “estate jewelry.” If you haven’t already done this, use a magnifying glass to check the barrettes for makers’ marks. A known maker increases the value. The names on your barrettes may be a clue to how old they are. The Social Security Administration tracks the popularity of baby names at www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames. Use the site to check which years the names were popular. That could help you estimate the date.
Tip: Don’t like to haggle over prices? Just write the price you will offer on a small card and give it to the dealer to consider. Or ask the dealer to write down the lowest acceptable price. Probably a good ploy for very expensive antiques or art.